Nigeria’s global music influence has once again taken centre stage as Burna Boy, Wizkid and Rema secured nominations in the Afrobeats category at the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs).
The trio were named among contenders for Best Afrobeats Artist, further underscoring Nigeria’s growing dominance in the genre on the global stage.
Organisers announced the nominations ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for May 25, 2026, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The event will be hosted by Queen Latifah, with winners to be determined entirely through global fan voting via the AMAs website and social media platforms.
In the Afrobeats category, the Nigerian stars will compete against South African singer Tyla and Ghanaian-American artiste MOLIY. With the genre’s continued global rise, the Nigerian nominees are expected to attract strong support from their international fanbases.
Produced by Dick Clark Productions since 1974, the American Music Awards remain one of the few major music award platforms where winners are decided directly by fans. Nominees are selected based on key performance metrics, including sales, streaming figures and airplay.
This year’s edition also reflects intense competition across multiple categories. Taylor Swift leads the nominations with eight, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and sombr with seven nominations each, while Alex Warren and Lady Gaga earned six apiece.
The 2026 nominations highlight the continued global expansion of music genres, with Afrobeats maintaining a strong presence among mainstream audiences worldwide. For Nigerian fans, attention will be on whether one of the country’s leading acts will clinch the Afrobeats honour when voting concludes.
